Cargill opens US$33M dairy feed plant in Punjab, largest in South Asia

INDIA – Cargill Animal Nutrition and Health has inaugurated a new ₹300 crore (approximately US$33 million) dairy feed manufacturing facility in Punjab, India, marking its largest plant in South Asia.

The plant, strategically located in Wazirabad within one of India’s most productive dairy belts, underscores Cargill’s commitment to expanding its footprint across key markets and strengthening dairy nutrition support for farmers at scale.

Spread across 15 acres in Wazirabad, the plant has an annual production capacity of 400,000 metric tonnes, making it Cargill’s largest feed facility in South Asia and its second in Punjab after Bhatinda. The development reflects growing demand for science‑based, nutrient-optimised dairy feeds amid broader growth in India’s dairy sector.

Cargill said the Wazirabad plant is expected to generate direct and indirect employment for around 1,000 people, supporting local livelihoods while helping the company meet rising feed requirements in northern India.

Products manufactured at the facility will be marketed under globally recognised Cargill brands, including Provimi and Purina. The portfolio will include specialised formulations tailored to different livestock categories, from young calves to high‑yielding milking cows, providing farmers with nutrition solutions designed to improve health, productivity and profitability.

Cargill has emphasised that the new plant aims to reduce supply gaps and improve consistent access to safe, quality animal nutrition, addressing long‑standing challenges in dairy feed availability and logistics. By locating production closer to high‑density dairy regions, the company expects improved supply reliability and shorter delivery timelines for local farming communities.

The plant is equipped with advanced automation and built to global safety and biosecurity standards. Compliance with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) guidelines ensures consistent product quality and safe nutrition solutions for farmers. 

“Expanding manufacturing capacity closer to key dairy clusters will enable farmers to access high-quality, low-toxin feed more reliably,” said Ravinder Balain, President of Cargill India and Senior Managing Director of Cargill Animal Nutrition & Health, India. He emphasised that improved feed availability would enhance milk yields, animal health, and farm profitability while supporting rural prosperity.

Punjab’s Minister of Industries & Commerce, Sanjeev Arora, welcomed the investment, noting that multinational projects such as Cargill’s reinforce the state’s strong agricultural foundation. “Such initiatives energise Punjab’s industrial ecosystem, create employment, and enhance rural prosperity. The government remains committed to positioning Punjab as a preferred destination for agri-sector investments,” he said during the inauguration.

A global leader in the dairy sector

India is the world’s largest producer of milk, accounting for more than 23% of global output. In 2024–25, national milk production rose by over 63% compared to a decade earlier, reaching nearly 230 million tonnes. The dairy industry contributes about 5% to India’s GDP and directly supports more than 80 million farmers, making it the country’s largest agricultural product segment.

The sector was valued at INR 21.3 trillion (US$256 billion) in 2025 and is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of nearly 12%, reaching INR 58 trillion (US$700 billion) by 2034. Rising demand for milk and milk-based products, coupled with government-backed initiatives and cooperative infrastructure, continues to drive growth.

However, challenges remain in ensuring consistent access to safe, high-quality feed, which directly impacts milk yields and farm profitability.

Despite this strong output, feed availability has long been cited as a bottleneck in India’s dairy value chain, with a large portion of the feed industry still untapped and reliant on traditional, low‑nutrient fodder sources. 

Experts point out that enhanced access to nutrient‑balanced, science‑driven feeds can play a key role in unlocking productivity gains and helping farmers tap the full potential of India’s dairy advantage.

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